Astrophysics and Cosmology at the University of Sussex (2011-2016)

我们的提议寻求资金，继续开展一项广泛的河外天体物理学和宇宙学研究方案，寻求解决我们这个时代一些最紧迫的天文学问题，例如“宇宙的基本组成是什么？被认为是驱动宇宙加速的暗能量的本质是什么？什么样的过程控制着我们宇宙中最大物体和结构的形成？星系是如何形成和演化的？'.我们解决这些问题的理论工作相结合，其中大部分使用高性能计算机，和观测调查，特别是从卫星观测站。我们的目标是在我们进行的统计建模中特别复杂，以使用观察来了解我们的模型。研究重点围绕三个主题，每个主题涉及几名教师和研究人员。主题1：宇宙学我们将推进管理我们的宇宙的基本成分和过程的知识。这包括宇宙膨胀的早期，被认为是宇宙结构起源的原因，通过研究宇宙非高斯性的起源和通过与新兴数据的详细比较来探索。我们将进一步发展具有宇宙缺陷（如宇宙弦）的模型的唯象学，并探索由此产生的微波背景和物质分布中的宇宙非高斯性。我们将完成暗能量调查（DES）的准备和定义阶段，并进入DES数据的开发，以约束暗能量现象学。该项目的这一部分利用了STFC参与普朗克测量卫星，暗能量调查和COSMOS超级计算机。主题2：宇宙结构XMM星团巡天（XCS）已经产生了迄今为止最大的星团温度样本。我们将利用这一点来利用DES，将星系团用于宇宙学。模拟将被用来校准XCS选择功能，并调查的物理集群内的介质。将开发一个完全耦合的辐射传输、气体动力学和N体代码，其中有处理各种辐射过程的模块，并用于模拟年轻宇宙中的再电离时期。该项目的这一组成部分利用了STFC参与Virgo财团，XMM-牛顿，暗能量调查和LOFAR。主题三：银河系的形成和演化这一主题的目标是提供基本的和增值的数据产品和高质量的科学从我们的领导作用，在许多多波长的调查，无论是深和广。Herschel爱马仕调查是这颗卫星上最大的实时方案，是我们在这一领域工作的核心。工作将包括使用赫歇尔卫星SPIRE星表进行爱马仕测量，使用多波长交叉ID进行爱马仕测量（包括VISTA和SCUBA-2），并使用多波长产品进行GAMA（星系和质量集合）测量。我们将开发星系演化的模型，同时描述丰富的数据。我们将进行后续观察，以测试这些模型的具体方面。该项目的这一组成部分利用了STFC参与Herschel卫星、VISTA、GAMA、LOFAR、SCUBA-2、Planck、阿尔马。

Our proposal seeks funds to continue an extensive programme of research into extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology, seeking to address some of the most pressing astronomical questions of our time, such as 'What are the fundamental constituents of the Universe?', 'What is the nature of the dark energy believed to be driving an acceleration of the Universe?', 'What processes govern the formation of the largest objects and structures in our Universe?', and 'How do galaxies form and evolve?'. We address these questions by a combination of theoretical work, much of it using high-performance computers, and observational surveys especially from satellite observatories. We aim to be particularly sophisticated in the statistical modelling we carry out to use the observations to learn about our models. The research focuses around three Themes, each involving several faculty members and researchers. Theme 1: Cosmology We will advance knowledge of the fundamental constituents and processes governing our Universe. This includes the early period of cosmological inflation, believed to be responsible for the origin of structures in the Universe, explored through studies of the origin of cosmic non-gaussianity and through detailed comparisons to emerging data. We will further develop the phenomenology of models featuring cosmic defects such as cosmic strings, and explore the consequent cosmic non-gaussianity both in the microwave background and in the matter distribution. We will complete the preparation and definition stage of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and move to exploitation of DES data to constrain dark energy phenomenology. This component of the project exploits STFC involvement in the Planck Surveyor Satellite, the Dark Energy Survey, and the COSMOS supercomputer. Theme 2: Cosmic Structures The XMM cluster survey (XCS) has produced the largest sample of cluster temperatures to date. We will use this to exploit DES, using clusters for cosmology. Simulations will be used to calibrate the XCS selection function and to investigate the physics of the intracluster medium. A fully coupled radiative-transfer, gas dynamics and N-body code will be developed, with modules to handle a wide range of radiation processes, and used to model the epoch of reionization in the young universe. This component of the project exploits STFC involvement in the Virgo consortium, XMM-Newton, the Dark Energy Survey and LOFAR. Theme 3: Galaxy Formation and Evolution The objectives of this theme are to deliver basic and value-added data products and high-quality science from our leading role in many multi-wavelength surveys both deep and wide. The Herschel HerMES survey, the largest guaranteed-time programme on this satellite, is central to our work in this area. Work will include using the Herschel satellite SPIRE catalogues for HerMES, multi-wavelength cross-IDs for HerMES (including VISTA and SCUBA-2), and multi-wavelength products for the GAMA (Galaxies and Mass Assembly) survey. We will develop models of galaxy evolution that simultaneously describe the wealth of data. We will undertake follow-up observations to test specific aspects of such models. This component of the project exploits STFC involvement in the Herschel Satellite, VISTA, GAMA, LOFAR, SCUBA-2, Planck, Alma.